FrontPanel Signal Selector & Attenuator

FrontPanel

Item# FrontPanel PCB & Switches

$29.00

24 Resistors:

Availability: Usually ships in 3-4 business days

Product Description

FrontPanel Signal Selector & Attenuator
The new FrontPanel makes wiring up a line stage (or integrated) amplifier much easier. Two channels of three inputs (both hot and grounds) attach to the PCB and two channels of 36 steps of attenuation are possible before leaving the PCB. When a line input is not selected, both its hot and ground are detached from the selector's output. The PCB is 1.4 by 6 inches and holds three rotary switches and pads for 24 resistors; the FrontPanel kit can be bought with (carbon-film or metal-film) resistors or without any resistors. The attenuator uses both a shunt and series stepped attenuation.

Why Use A Stepped Attenuator?
The stepped attenuator is an attempt to overcome the liabilities of the conventional potentiometer-based volume control. Even the best potentiometer compromises the quality of the signal that flows through it. The thin film of resistive paint and metal scraper that make up the average potentiometer seem to damage the signal almost as much as they attenuate it. Furthermore, finding a stereo potentiometer that follows a logarithmic taper and that can track from one channel to the other is tough. With the stepped attenuator, on the other hand, high-quality fixed resistors replace the thin resistive track and, likewise, high quality switch contacts replace the metal scraper. Because tight-tolerance resistors are readily available, there is no problem in following the logarithmic taper accurately and consistently.

Hybrid Stereo Stepped Attenuator
This cleverly designed stepped attenuator exploits both the series-attenuator and the shunt-attenuator configurations to yield the best compromise between flexibility, performance, and cost. The FrontPanel attenuator uses two rotary switches and 24 resistors to yield a total of 36 positions (decrements) of attenuation in fine -1dB or -2dB and coarse -6dB or -12dB decrements. Had the attenuator been entirely of a series design, the attenuator would require 36-position rotary switch and 72 resistors; a purely ladder design, a two-deck, 2-pol, 66-position rotary switch and 140 resistors. In contrast, the FrontPanel attenuator, from 0 to -5dB steps of attenuation, is solely a shunt attenuator, with no more than one series resistor in the signal path; thereafter, the attenuator uses both a shunt and series configurations, with never more than 7 resistors in the signal path.

The kit includes two shorting (2-pol/6-pos) and one non-shorting (4-pol/3-pos) rotary switches and one USA-made extra-thick (0.94"), high-quality PCB, with 2oz copper traces and two side solder mask and silkscreen. The kits are sold without resistors, so you, the purchaser, can use your favorite. In addition, packs of all the needed resistors are also for sale: 24 resistors for $10.

The FrontPanel PCB is 1.4 inches (36mm) tall and 6 inch (153mm) long and will fit within a 1U rack-mount enclosure. Each resistor position on the PCB holds a redundant set of pads, so that either radial resistors, such as bulk-foil resistors, and axial resistors can be used. The spacing between switches is 2 inches (50.8mm) and the switches themselves hold the attenuator assembly to the front panel.

The FrontPanel stereo attenuator presents a nominal load resistance of 28k to the signal source. It can be optimized for passive line stage use by using -1dB and -6dB steps, for a maximum of -35dB of attenuation.